TI-FRIS Program Details

 

Researcher Development Program

Five programs are being implemented under this initiative in order to foster field-leading world-class researchers who are equipped with the ability to develop interdisciplinary research with researchers in different fields (interdisciplinarity), the ability to conduct research through friendly competition with researchers around the world (Internationality) and the ability to work with society to translate research outcomes into social applications (Sociability). These are the International Collaborative Research Program, the Interdisciplinary Researcher Exchange Program, the Socially Implemented Research Program, the Transferable Skills Training Program and the Sharing Program.

In addition, to secure and support a stable, independent, and international research environment for TI-FRIS Fellows, each Fellow will be assigned a domestic mentor and an international mentor.

“Interdisciplinarity”

Interdisciplinary Researcher Exchange Program ー 5 years ー

Bringing together different specializations and institutions, research exchanges take interdisciplinary research to the next level through presentation and discussion of research findings. Builds ability to develop interdisciplinary research with researchers in different fields (interdisciplinarity).

TI-FRIS/FRIS Hub Meeting

A monthly seminar held once a month (on the fourth Thursday of the month, in principle) online based at Tohoku University (co-hosted with FRIS) to foster researchers who understand the importance of interdisciplinary research across disciplines and institutions and who can utilize it. Young researchers from a wide range of fields will have the opportunity to interact with each other across universities and disciplines. Presentations by TI-FRIS Fellows are encouraged. The presentations will focus on "what is interesting about my field," "what is the research method in my field," and "introduction of problems that are not likely to be solved only within my field," in addition to the introduction of easy-to-understand research results for researchers in different fields.

TI-FRIS/FRIS Retreat

An annual, two-day gathering in the Tohoku region (co-hosted with FRIS) to facilitate exchanges among researchers in different fields and to identify joint research themes. New awareness can be expected through free discussion in a different environment than usual.
■ Past Events
  • TI-FRIS/FRIS Retreat 2023
    (July 20-21, 2023, Onsite event at Active Resorts Miyagi Zao)
  • TI-FRIS/FRIS Retreat 2022
    (July 21-22, 2022, Onsite event at Active Resorts Miyagi Zao)
  • TI-FRIS/FRIS Retreat 2021
    (August 3, 2021, Hybrid event based at Tohoku University)

Grant for Interdisciplinary Research

The grant supports excellent joint research proposals that transcend the boundaries of fields and institutions to promote interdisciplinary research that can be published based on the above-mentioned exchange of interdisciplinary researchers and the seeds of interdisciplinary research possessed by each researcher.
“Internationality”

International Collaborative Research Program ー 5 years ー

Program participants spend around one month every year at an overseas research institution, conducting ongoing international collaborative research with top-level foreign researchers. Builds ability to conduct research through friendly competition with researchers around the world (Internationality).

Fund for Start-up Activities

This fund will be provided to create an independent research environment where TI-FRIS Fellows can promote world-class research in their respective fields. (Fund Amount: Up to 1 million JPY per year per Fellow, up to 2 years.)

Fund for International Collaborative Research

This grant supports the travel and research expenses necessary for TI-FRIS Fellows to stay at overseas research institutions (in principle, the laboratories of international mentors) for about one month to conduct international joint research. (Grant Amount: Up to 1 million JPY per year per Fellow, up to 5 years.)

Grant for Publication and Presentation of Research Results

This grant supports expenses required for the presentation of research results, such as expenses for participation in international conferences in Japan and abroad, publication fees (co-authors are acceptable as long as they can explain the role they played in writing the paper), etc. (Grant Amount: To be selected by review; Up to 400 k JPY per application. No. of Cases Supported: Depends on the numbers of applications.)

Grant for Organizing Seminars

This grant supports expenses (travel expenses for lecturers, rewards for lectures, etc.) necessary to organize seminars (regardless of size: seminars limited to research laboratories are acceptable).
“Sociability”

Social Implementation Program ー 5 years ー

Program participants undertake industry-academic joint research with participating companies and others, engaging in exchanges and supporting the application of research findings in society. Builds ability to work with society to translate research outcomes into social applications (Sociability).

Advisory Supports for Industry-Academia Collaborative Research and Social Implementation

To strengthen the TI-FRIS Fellows' ability to work with society to translate their research outcomes into social applications (Sociability), the advisor will provide individual advice to TI-FRIS Fellows on any questions or concerns they may have when conducting industry-academia collaborative research with companies. The advisor is Prof. Shigeyoshi Yoshida of MaSC, Tohoku Univ., who has a wealth of experience in materials research and development and industry-academia collaboration.
 

Advisor

Prof. Shigeyoshi Yoshida

Tohoku University

Material Solutions Center (MaSC)
Deputy Director

■ Bio
1982:  M.D. (Science), Department of Chemistry, Graduated School of Science and Engineering, Aoyama Gakuin Univ.
Joined Tohoku Metal Industries Ltd. (Tokin).
2002:  Ph.D. (Engineering), Department of Material Science and Engineering, Graduated School of Engineering, Tohoku Univ.
2011:  Vice President and Director of the Board.
2016:  Fellow
Guest Professor of IMRAM, Tohoku Univ.
2017:  Deputy Director and Specially Appointed Professor of MaSC, Tohoku Univ.
 
■ Awards
2004:  MSJ Outstanding Research Award.
2005:  Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
2006:  IEC 1906 Award.
2008:  The Ichimura Prize in Industry.

Grant for Industry-Academia Collaborative Research and Social Implementation

This grant supports proposals for outstanding collaborative research and social implementation. (Grant Amount: To be selected by review; Up to 1 million JPY per year per application, 2 years. No. of Cases Supported: About 4.)

Transferable Skills Training Program ー 5 years ー

Featuring lectures from top researchers, academic impact lectures, social impact lectures, industry R&D and societal research implementation lectures and academic research lectures. Builds the essential skills for becoming a top-class global researcher. TI-FRIS is working to make the program more flexible by holding lectures online and archiving the recorded videos for TI-FRIS Fellows.
Note: Transferable skills are those skills that are applicable regardless of industry or work type, such as problem-solving, self-management and people skills.

Lecture Course by Top Researchers

This lecture course aims to provide TI-FRIS Fellows with the skills to publish papers in the world's top journals and to obtain research funding from overseas. Lecturers will be invited from authors of highly-cited papers, faculty members who have participated in overseas research projects, academic experts such as directors, presidents, and presidents at participating institutions, and top researchers at overseas partner institutions (mainly international mentors for TI-FRIS Fellows).

Lecture Course on Academic Impact

This lecture course aims to help TI-FRIS Fellows acquire the skills to create a world-class academic impact, including publication in the world's top journals.

Lecture Course on Societal Impact

This lecture course aims to provide TI-FRIS Fellows with the skills to conceptualize the potential impact of their research on society from multiple perspectives, communicate it to other stakeholders, and involve a variety of stakeholders with the aim of implementation.

Lecture Course on Industrial R&D and Social Implementation

This lecture course aims to help TI-FRIS Fellows to deepen the understanding of problems and solutions in society and companies, as well as how to implement research results in society, and to acquire those skills. Lecturers will be invited from collaborating companies, etc.

Lecture Course on Interdisciplinary Research

This lecture course aims to help TI-FRIS Fellows acquire the know-how of interdisciplinary research and the presentation and management skills to obtain positions and grants outside Japan. Lecturers will be invited from young and mid-career Japanese PIs in their 30s and 40s.

Common Program

In partnership with participating institutions, a research equipment sharing network is to be established providing the basic gear for research, in order to ensure that program participants are able to conduct research in an independent research environment. TI-FRIS symposium is also held for program participants to impart their findings, meet those from participating and partner institutions, and disseminate information about the program.

Research Facilities Sharing Network

TI-FRIS is establishing the research facilities sharing network in which TI-FRIS Fellows can use the shared facilities owned by participating universities under the same conditions as on-campus users. If you wish to use the facility, please refer to the document by the university that manages the facility, and apply for use by following the prescribed procedure.

TI-FRIS Symposium

An international symposium will be held once a year for two days in Sendai to allow TI-FRIS Fellows to report on their achievements in English and to facilitate exchanges between TI-FRIS Fellows and related parties from participating and collaborating institutions. In addition, a domestic symposium will be held simultaneously.
■ Past Events

Double Mentor System

To secure and support a stable, independent, and international research environment for TI-FRIS Fellows, each Fellow will be assigned a domestic mentor and an international mentor. Mentors are asked to provide the necessary advice and support for the advancement of the TI-FRIS Fellow’s research and educational activities, as well as monitor the TI-FRIS-related activities of their assigned TI-FRIS Fellows.

Domestic Mentor

TI-FRIS requests senior faculty members at TI-FRIS Fellows' affiliated institutions to serve as their domestic mentors. Domestic mentors are asked to fulfill the following two tasks.
■ Support and Advice for TI-FRIS Fellows
Mentors are asked to provide an independent research environment and research support for the TI-FRIS Fellows. While we understand that the concept of an independent research environment varies from department to department, at the very least, young researchers should be able to secure research space and execute their research expenses. In addition, mentors are asked to provide advice and counsel to TI-FRIS Fellows regarding the promotion of their research and educational activities as necessary.
■ Monitor Progress
Once a year in around July, international mentors are asked to fill out a very simple evaluation questionnaire and give their opinion on the research activities of the TI-FRIS Fellow they are mentoring relative to other researchers in the same research field and at a similar stage of their careers, and on the growth of the TI-FRIS Fellow as a researcher compared to the previous year. The questionnaire consists of a few simple questions (one or two multiple-choice question(s) plus comments, if any) and helps us ensure the effectiveness of the TI-FRIS program by monitoring the progress of the TI-FRIS Fellows.

International Mentor

TI-FRIS requests senior researchers from TI-FRIS Fellows’ international collaborative research institutions to serve as their international mentors. International mentors are asked to fulfill the following two tasks.
■ Support for TI-FRIS Fellows’ International Activities
The financial support for the TI-FRIS Fellows’ international collaborative research is provided by TI-FRIS. International mentors are asked to provide some advice and support as and when necessary through collaborative research with the TI-FRIS Fellows so that the TI-FRIS Fellows enhance research achievements and get international grants.
■ Monitor Progress
Once a year in around July, international mentors are asked to fill out a very simple evaluation questionnaire and give their opinion on the research activities of the TI-FRIS Fellow they are mentoring relative to other researchers in the same research field and at a similar stage of their careers, and on the growth of the TI-FRIS Fellow as a researcher compared to the previous year. The questionnaire consists of a few simple questions (one or two multiple-choice question(s) plus comments, if any) and helps us ensure the effectiveness of the TI-FRIS program by monitoring the progress of the TI-FRIS Fellows.